Archive for April, 2012

Campaigners all over the country spluttered with shock today at reading Ed Vaizey’s bald-faced assertion that he saved libraries from closures. In a letter to the Telegraph, the Minister Previously Nowhere To Be Seen Doing Anything About Libraries, says:

“We have been active in reminding local authorities of this statutory duty, which is why far fewer libraries have closed than would otherwise have done so. We have also made it clear that the duty to provide a public library service will remain, and we will look seriously at any authority that considers libraries an easy target to close.”.

Any even vaguely neutral observer will know that Mr Vaizey has spent the last year looking the other way while library budgets have been cut and branches closed throughout the country. He has hidden behind campaigners who did his work for him both by protesting against closures and in fighting costly judicial reviews. What Ed has done is write a couple of letters so he can say he has done something so he can, presumably, hope to avoid being taken to court himself for failing to uphold the 1964 Act. It is not because of him that anything has been done. Many will feel that for him to claim that the work of thousands of campaigners nationwide was unnecessary because he wrote a line or two is deeply insulting:

“Um….what?? The nerve! The reason “less libraries have closed” is because of tireless work of campaigners like us ,who have been ignored by Vaizey, have done. How dare he! If not for us 11 libraries would have closed – solely for cost reasons – in illegal plans…meanwhile Vaizey still ignores us! Another month passes and still he has not answered our open letter. He has time to reply to this but not us!” Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries.

“I am pleased to see Ed reminding local authorities that the library service is statutory. I don’t really think however that it is his letter to councils that has deterred them from making more closures. That has a lot more to do with the sterling work of campaigners up and down the country. After all, the legal victories in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Surrey happened against a backdrop of deafening silence from Mr Vaizey’s department.” Alan Gibbons.

News

“SIR – Your report (April 27) of a letter from council leaders suggests that local authorities might close libraries to save money because they are a “local discretionary service”, although the LGA letter does not mention libraries at all. Public libraries are not a discretionary service, but are statutory under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. Local authorities are entitled to organise library services in accordance with local needs, taking available resources into account, but no authority should close a library solely to save costs. We have been active in reminding local authorities of this statutory duty, which is why far fewer libraries have closed than would otherwise have done so. We have also made it clear that the duty to provide a public library service will remain, and we will look seriously at any authority that considers libraries an easy target to close. Ed Vaizey MP (Con) Minister for Culture. London SW1″ Government needs to set out plans for the funding of care services– Telegraph (letters). See comment above.

Tory councils cut libraries more– Labour. “8 out of top 10 councils for library cuts are Conservative run. Conservative Councils cut twice as much as Labour councils . Labour is today publishing figures which demonstrate the cost of a local council being run by the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats, with library services being cut at twice the rate in Tory authorities than Labour ones. The average cut in a Labour council is around £400,000 but for Tory Councils it is double that – well over £800,000. Stephen Twigg [Shadow Education Secretary] will visit Upper Norwood Library on Monday 30 April to discuss the impact of Government cuts with staff and library users.”

“Libraries are an incredibly important part of our cultural fabric. As well as giving young people the gift of reading, they also give adults the opportunity to access advice, look for employment and get on the internet. “With one in three children without a book at home, it is worrying that the Government is overseeing a postcode lottery in library services.”

Doncaster – Volunteers will help library open longer– Doncaster Free Press. “So far 26 people have volunteered their time to help with the running of Warmsworth Library for 17 hours a week, as residents felt it was vital the community had somewhere to meet, get books, or even have a quiet place to do work.”

Gloucestershire – County library call-in rejected– This is Glurcestershire. “Councillors have today rejected a call to prevent funding being withdrawn from seven Gloucestershire libraries. The Liberal Democrat motion to force the Conservative administration to reconsider its plans was turned down at Shire Hall. Members of the overview and scrutiny management committee voted against the opposition call-in.The Lib Dems had said the strategy was not in order because the county council had failed to take nine matters into account when making the decision. The county council will now be able to proceed with plans to hand seven libraries to the community and reduce hours in others.”

Lib Dems in challenge on library cuts– Wilts and Glos Standard. “Lib Democrat group leader Cllr Jeremy Hilton said: “The whole process for the strategic review of the library network has been shambolic from start to finish. In a letter to the council’s chief executive Pete Bungard, the group highlighted several “fundamental flaws” in the strategy, including access for vulnerable groups.” … “Lechlade’s library working group is not taking any chances and has already started the process of registering a charity, the Friends of Lechlade Library, to run the library should the cuts go ahead.”

Greenwich – Strike closed “11 out of 13 libraries” in Greenwich– News Shopper. “Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “Our members have led the way in exposing GLL. “They are not worker led – they are a private company swallowing up public services.” A protest march is planned for May 5, leaving Eltham library at noon and heading to Woolwich library. A spokesman for Greenwich Council said all the libraries were back open today.”

Library workers strike in Greenwich– BookSeller. “Close to 100 Greenwich library workers are on strike over plans to privatise the borough’s library services.”. GLL say jobs are safe and they will not close any libraries [although it is notable that the council appear to have closed one – Ferrier – last week, just prior to the takeover – Ian.].

Lancashire – Row over Lancashire library service budget cuts– Lancashire Telegraph. “Since 2009/10, the County Council has cut £5.1million from the library budget – down from £22.2million to an estimate of £17.1million this year.” … ” Council says While we do face tough economic times, none of the county’s 74 libraries have closed, and all front line services continue to be staffed appropriately.”

Leicester – Changes made to library city plans– This is Leicestershire. “Planned self-service libraries will now have staff – after hundreds of people told the city council they were concerned about the proposed changes. Earlier this year, Leicester City Council announced it wanted to axe librarians at Aylestone, St Matthew’s and Fosse libraries – moving books from two into nearby community buildings. Almost 800 people gave their views to the council as part of a consultation on the plans, with many saying that losing knowledgeable staff was their main concern. While the council still plans to axe most staff and install self checkout machines, it has promised to alter its proposals – ensuring a librarian will be present at all three sites for at least as many hours as the current library is open.”.

Surrey – Lingfield community group calls for formal meeting with Surrey over library– This is Surrey Today. “The Guest House Enabling Committee, made up of community members, wants to take over the library’s trust status – but says the county council appears unwilling to let go because of the financial benefits. But the council insisted this week it has tried to arrange a meeting. Committee chairman Rita Russell told the Mirror: “We need some definitive answers in print from the council so we can take over the trust and work with the council on how to run the library.” The library in the Guest House, Vicarage Road, was left in trust by Arthur Hayward in 1954 to the county council, to be used as a library. The committee says it can run the library without the council because the site can raise money through rent from accommodation, so is self-financing.”. Council is currently charging 20% admin fee for any maintenance work the trust will do on building.

Library plans back on the table at Surrey County Council– Guardian series. ““Allowing communities to run libraries enables us to do this and it is still the council’s policy. “Although the council had done a lot of work to develop equalities training, the High Court ruled there should have been more detail in the cabinet’s papers about it at the meeting last September, so we are going to take the decision again, with all the information we need about volunteer training.”

So, the Telegraph decided to have the headline “Elderly care funding will force closure of libraries” on its front page on Friday. The headline comes from the Local Government Association (LGA) who say that “the crisis in funding elderly care could lead to the closure of libraries, parks and leisure centres”. This claim is due to a “failure to reach agreement soon on how to pay for care for the rapidly ageing population could set a long-term solution back years, they warn.Such a delay could force councils to divert money from so-called “discretionary” services such as parks and libraries to “plug the gap””. The claim is important because (a) it appeared on the front page of a national newspaper and (b) the LGA represents every authority on England.

Some thoughts on this. The LGA have not been good friends of libraries over the last year or so. The quote that stands out for me is in its submission to the DCMS Select Committee Inquiry into Library Closures where it made the amazing statement that a a “closure of a library does not automatically mean a decrease in access to library services”. That it is willing to use libraries in what may look to a bystander as a thinly veiled blackmail attempt is interesting and speaks volumes for the importance that politicians have learnt to put on libraries because of popular resistance to their closure.

Of course, libraries are not a “discretionary” service. The 1964 Act that makes them a statutory service and the Minister responsible for their oversight has been carefully and legalistically sidestepped by the current ministers, the now incredibly-vulnerable-looking Jeremy Hunt and the passive Ed Vaizey. It’s interesting that the Telegraph later qualifies its statement by saying that “some libraries” are discretionary. This is sadly far more accurate as the cuts in Brent, Isle of Wight, Buckinghamshire, Barnet, Doncaster etc show. There have even been claims by some of the more extreme politicians that only one library per authority is needed as the “comprehensive and efficient” requirement could be fulfilled by the internet. That around a fifth of the population don’t have access to the internet other than through their library has ironically passed such people by.

The true irony though is that libraries have an awful lot to do with elderly care. Go into every library and you will see senior citizens reading the paper, chatting to each other, using the computers and taking out so many books that their bags bulge. These are the people who come up to library staff and say they don’t know that they’d do without their library. They are the people who need it the most to fill their time, their needs for social contact, the increasingly essential internet access and even, yes, to supplement their heating needs. I sometimes shock people by telling them about a gentleman told me across the counter one day that he’d commit suicide if it wasn’t for the library. Guess what? He was elderly. Just another sad statistic if the library closed, I guess.

The subtext of the whole article is that councils, given the cuts, only provide services that they absolutely have to. It says a lot about the lack of awareness of politician about both the law and about the benefits that libraries provide that libraries are not seen as being resolutely in this essential category.

See also:

“Cap elderly care funding or close libraries”– Public Service. “Elderly care funding needs to be capped or councils will have to close discretionary public services such as libraries, parks and leisure centres, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.”

“The LGA should be ashamed of regurgitating this old chestnut to justify library closures. Please note, it is nothing new : Feb 2009 Swindon | “hard decisions have to be made between libraries and social care“. Needless to say, a way was found to keep the library in question open — with paid staff (which shows it is possible). The LGA should not, either implicity or explicitly, encourage councils to give residents the stark choice between ‘neglected elderly’ or ‘public libraries’. As an official line, it offers a lazy, cynical, easy way out. ” Shirley Burnham, via email.

News

Boris victory if the only thing that can save the Tories now– Daily Mail. DCMS may move further away from Culture and Libraries in the unlikely event it and Jeremy Hunt survive: “Friends of Hunt are stressing that he still has things he wants to do at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. If he survives this scandal, he plans to turn it into a technology office promoting digital investment in Britain. If the Prime Minister does decide to reshuffle sooner rather than later, allies say he is particularly likely to promote Cities Minister Greg Clark and Housing Minister Grant Shapps. Disabilities Minister Maria Miller, left, is also tipped for a seat at the Cabinet table.”

“The Times has published a letter from Professor Lyndal Roper at Oxford, Professor Lenore Davidoff at Essex and 48 other signatories about the decision of the Metropolitan University to rid itself of the Women’s Library. “ One would hope that any government committed to preserving our culture and history would intervene and protect this essential resource before it is too late.”” Full text available from Save the Women’s Library.

Do we still need libraries? – University of Liverpool. Debate on 16th May 5.30pm at the Florrie. “Libraries have underpinned mass literacy, provided a sense of community, improved health and promoted wellbeing – all through reading. However, the needs of today’s society and the arrival of new technology throw their purpose and role in communities into question. This event will ask whether libraries are still an essential service to be supported by the state, what purpose they serve in today’s society and how they should deliver on this.”. Speakers will include Cllr Keith Mitchell, current Oxfordshire leader who has strongly criticised library supporters as middle class and preferring cuts to social services instead. Other speakers inlcude Sue Charteris (author of the influential Charteris Report on Wirral library cuts), Alan Davey (chief executive, Arts Council England) and Prof. John Rose (professor and author).

Face Book 7 x 7– Photographs of Cruddas Park library users (Newcastle) showing the wide range of people and what they came in for. Some lovely pictures. Usage mainly splits into three categories: books, internet and job-hunting.

Harman uses Clegg’s backyard to launch all-out attack on Lib Dems – Independent. “Yesterday Ms Harman told The Independent the Lib Dems were being “duplicitous” by opposing the cuts during their town hall campaign even though they were “complicit” in them by backing the Conservatives’ deficit-reduction strategy. Labour singled out Sarah Teather, the Schools minister, for opposing library closures in her Brent Central constituency.”

Help us improve our advocacy for school libraries– SLA. “We are trying to get a more complete picture of the situation in school libraries in the UK now. We have designed a very simple, short and quick survey to get a sense of the position school libraries are in currently. Please take 5 minutes to fill it in. “

New librarians: this is your time – The Real Wikiman. Slideshow with some great phrases e.g. “Librarians are no longer the gatekeepers of information. The gates are wide open. Our job is to light the path for people once they’re through” … “There is no such thing as abstaining from library advocacy. You are either doing it, or you’re doing it wrong”.

Not all roads lead to London when it comes to Culture– Guardian. “But, as Ed Vaizey reminded us at the launch, when you’re in the showing-off business, one Barenboim, Hirst or Walters is worth a thousand Inner Mongolians. “The 2012 Games provides a unique chance to showcase Britain to the world,” he confirmed. And, of course, if everyone’s looking at Julie Walters, there’s a very good chance they won’t notice Vaizey’s libraries (deceased).”

Barnet – Authors and actors sign petition to reopen Friern Barnet library– Times series. “Since the council closed the library on Thursday, April 5, 283 people have signed the online petition. These include David Nicholls, author of One Day, and actress Prunella Scales, who is best known for her role as Sybil in the British comedy Fawlty Towers.”. “Miss Canning has also collected signatures from author Paolo Hewitt and actor Timothy West.”

Bolton – Election fight over axeing of libraries – Bolton News. “The decision to axe one third of the town’s libraries — including his own local branch — could be a major issue for Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris in the local elections. Voters go to the polls on Thursday and the Labour leader is defending his Halliwell seat, a position he has held for the last 20 years. A major thorn in his side during the long-running libraries saga, which eventually saw five branch libraries closed, was Ian McHugh, secretary of the Save Bolton Libraries campaign. Now, Mr McHugh, a Green Party candidate, will stand for election against Cllr Morris in Halliwell, where Oxford Grove Library closed in February. He said: “I have lived in Halliwell with my family for more than 20 years.”

Brent – Pickles to decide on fate of 1894 library– Keep Willesden Green. “Eric Pickles passed it to his National Planning Casework Unit, who have discussed the matter of who has authority to give consent for the demolition of the 1894 Willesden Green Library building with Brent Council. The letter confirms that if the planning application for the new Cultural Centre includes demolition of the Willesden Green Library (which we now know that it will), and if the Council are minded to approve that application, Brent intend to refer the Conservation Area Consent application to the Secretary of State for his consideration under Section 74, Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990. “

Buckinghamshire – BBC star opens community library in Flackwell Heath– Bucks Free Press. “A village library was officially handed over to volunteers this afternoon, with about 200 people turning out mark its rebirth. Flackwell Heath’s library has been redecorated and refurbished over the last month in preparation for the handover, which was formally announced by Antiques Roadshow star Eric Knowles.” … “After the opening speeches the crowd crammed inside, where Patricia Greene, from BBC radio show The Archers, was reading for children.”. Five ex-librarians are volunteering at the branch.

Haddenham and Wendover Libraries turn over new leaf– Mix 96. “For Haddenham Library – the plans are to become a self managed community led library later this summer. In Wendover, as one of the largest community libraries, Wendover will become a community partnership with a phased approach towards a self managed community library.”. Haddenham: “A paid member of staff from the County Council will be seconded to the library, and supported by local volunteers. In addition, Haddenham Community Library, who are set up as a charity will actively raise funds to support the library.”

Croydon – Spends £40k on library consultant– Save Croydon Libraries Campaign. ” We need to ask ourselves why is Croydon Council so shy to share any details of their plans. The council only consulted on six libraries, ignored the “do nothing” option and admit it was mainly the users of only those libraries who responded. They have denied residents the breakdown on 412 responses they say informed their decision and are outsourcing the whole network without consulting users of the other libraries. There is also the plight of Upper Norwood Library @SaveUNlibrary and the announcement that New Addington Library will close and move to a yet unknown part of the cramped accommodation within the CALAT centre.”

Greenwich – Library workers in Greenwich strike over privatisation plans– ITV News. 100 on strike. “They claim the new company will pay them much less than the wages the currently earn as employees of Greenwich Council. They claim staff who work at GLL do not receive the London Living Wage of £8.30 an hour.” … “Unite recently petitioned library users in the borough, with 1,600 people signing postcards saying no to the transfer of library services.”

Oxfordshire – Library Wars Episode IV: A new hope – Question Everything. Incoming leader of council, Cllr Hudspeth, spoke out against libraries cuts. “The idea behind it [the cuts] came from a meeting with David Cameron and Cllr Mitchell when Cameron intervened when the threat to the City libraries caused a lot of negative publicity involving celebrity authors. I don’t think the staff in the library service itself had very little to do with it nor the flawed and misquoted data used to support it. Sixteen of the twenty one cut libraries are in Tory divisions.”. Current leader of council Keith Mitchell “is speaking at a “Do we need libraries” debate in Liverpool next month”.

Scottish Borders – “Undue haste” claim over £360,000 libraries and contact centres merger – Southern Reporter. “It has now emerged that on April 16, the council published the layouts for all the integrated sites, except Selkirk where a decision of whether the town library or High Street contact centre should host the service is pending.And the public has only until this coming Sunday – April 29 – to submit its view”. Cuts in opening hours at Jedburgh and Selkirk (down 8 hours per week), Kelso (down 3 hours per week).

Surrey – Interview on libraries plan – BBC Radio Surrey. Recording of radio interview. Council decided to drop opposition to judicial review: SLAM say clear public did not want to run libraries. Council says trying to keep all libraries open and judge ruled only on technical issue of equalities training of volunteers. Decision had to be made due to cut of funding. However, Chief Executive got 40% pay rise over last two years. Claim that withdrawing funding from the ten smallest libraries would be most cost effective option.

Telford & Wrekin – Telford library hours to be cut in £330k savings drive– Shropshire Star. “The borough’s nine libraries open for an average of just over 32 hours a week, which will now be reduced to an average of just over 27 hours a week. Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet met last night and approved the move and said its priority was to ensure no libraries closed.”

Consultation was short and misleading, with some sessions being held after the decision was made.

Four-fifths of GLL staff are employed on a casual basis. Although two members of staff sit on the Trust board, this is hardly a majority. The chief executive of GLL is earning a very high salary. This is questionable when all profits should go back to the service.

TUPE protection only covers staff at the point of transfer. New, lesser, terms and conditions can then be given to the same staff after transfer.

Villagers’ petition wins high speed internet for 4500 people– NAPLE (Serbia). “What amazed us was that the villagers brought their petition to the village library, and asked the librarians to contact the public library in town’ said Ms Suzana Tanasijević, a librarian at Public Library Radislav Nikčević in Jagodina. ‘It means that the villagers now see the public library as an initiator of change in the community.’”

Barnet – Temporary library opens at artdepot– Barnet and Whetstone Press. “In an effort to appease members of the Save Friern Barnet Library group, cabinet member for customer access, Robert Rams announced an agreement to use one of Barnet College’s rooms for the temporary book loan service A council spokesman said the stop-gap library, which will be open for three hours a day, four days a week, will offer around 10,000 items, as well as newspapers, magazines and a study space. Activities for children and young people are also in the pipeline, he said.”

Camden – Volunteers get Chalk Farm Library – Camden New Journal. “Due to a 25 per cent cut in the Town Hall’s budget for libraries, Chalk Farm has joined the Belsize and Heath libraries in becoming independently run. The group who have taken on the new Chalk Farm Library in Sharpeshall Street have been given a 20-year lease on the building with a six-year no-rent deal. They have also been handed a £119,000 pot by Camden Council to help with management costs.”

Ealing – Three libraries to benefit but temporary closures have been criticised– Ealing Today. “Money recovered from the failed Icelandic bank, Glitnir will be used to refurbish Hanwell and Perivale Libraries and relocate Southall Library.”. Conservative councillor says “‘It was only thanks to a massive campaign last year by Conservative Councillors and residents, who presented petitions, signed by over 8,000 residents, that made Labour decide to backtrack on closing our libraries.”

Greenwich – Libraries takeover: GLL boss speaks out – 853. “Members of the Unite union are protesting about the way Greenwich Council has decided to transfer the service to Greenwich Leisure Limited from next week.” Council had made it clear a year ago that transfer was an option. Comments suggest that TUPE protections will soon be lost and that the consultation was secretive and misleading. One consultation was held in March 2012, after the decision to transfer had taken place.

“We want to see facilities open at weekends, in the evenings, on bank holidays and when more people can access them. We also think that libraries, like leisure centres, should have good catering, creche and good transport links as well as extensive access to new technology, plenty of study space and a good relevant book stock. We are very much looking forward to taking over the service and giving the Borough a library service which is second to none in the Capital. Of course, the staff in Greenwich libraries will be apprehensive about any changes, this is natural. They need not worry really though, because GLL is a staff owned cooperative and ultimately they (the library staff) will be responsible for their own part of the service. I cannot answer for the trades union view, although it seems to me that striking because yor employer has changed – even though your employment rights and terms and conditions are guaranteed by law – is not really going to get us anywhere.” Mark Sesnan, GLL managing director.

“GLL likes to give the impression that it is a model employer. But what sort of model employer employs four fifths of its total staff of 5000 on a casual basis? We have spoken with GLL casual staff who tell us how it is impossible to plan lives when you may go 3 or 4 weeks without being offered work. The company recently implemented a pay review whereby new staff in roles such as Life Guards will earn less than coleagues carrying out an identical role. So you do exactly the same job, to the same standard but earn thousands of pounds a year less. This is not how a model employer operates.” Onay Kasab, UNITE branch secretary.

Library staff to hold four day strike– News Shopper. “The union claims proper consultation was not carried out, that jobs could be put at risk by the move, and any new staff will be employed on worse pay and conditions. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “The council has lost no time in claiming the good times are coming to the borough as a result of the Olympics. But here is the real story.”

Surrey – Libraries should be run by professionals, not by volunteers– Eagle Radio. “Earlier this month, Mr Justice Wilkie upheld a technical challenge over a decision to create 10 community-run libraries staffed by volunteers, although he did not criticise the policy itself. The council has now decided to bring the proposal back to a Cabinet meeting on 19th June, when it will consider all the work that has been done to develop a comprehensive training package for volunteers. A further consultation about equalities training for volunteers at community libraries will take place before then.”

Warwickshire – Opening of Bidford Library– Coventry Telegraph. “Bidford Library has been running as a community enterprise since the end of March in the wake of massive cuts to Warwickshire County Council’s libraries budget. Chairman Mike Gerrard said: “The first month of operation has been a great success, which bodes well for the future, provided that the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the response from the public can be sustained.” Author Anne Fine will officially open the library, in Bramley Way, at 4pm on Wednesday.”

Worcestershire – Kidderminster Library gallery users “not given enough time” to comment – Shuttle. “Library users say they have not been given enough time to comment on plans to move the gallery and piano. A consultation event is under way at the library to highlight proposals which could see 90 desks and 139 staff from Worcestershire County Council’s adult and social care and children’s services move into the top-floor space. The gallery and piano would be moved to the ground floor and first floor respectively.”

“While Conservatives and Labour councils their budgets without regard for the most vulnerable, Liberal Democrat-controlled councils know how to protect essential services. Encouraging and enabling reading is vital to the development of children and adults alike. If we don’t give our children the opportunity to practice and perfect their reading skills at a young age, they will struggle to catch up later in life. Libraries are a life-line for local communities, especially for those who are less well off, and give people the opportunity to relax, learn new information and skills or to use the internet if they don’t have it at home. Cutting services like Labour and Tory councils are doing will do long-term damage. Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing thanks to our financial competency in the councils we run. That is also the reason why not only have Liberal Democrat councils kept libraries open, but councils in England have also frozen council tax and are most likely to be giving the lowest-paid council workers a pay rise.” Tim Farron, President of the Liberal Democrats[This is the first national announcement by the Lib Dems on libraries I can remember – Ian.]

Romania opens national library in communist-era building– Yahoo News (Romania / New Zealand). “This was a tremendous financial, and not only, effort,” Culture Minister Hunor Kelemen said. “In the 21st century, the state cannot afford not to finance cultural projects,” he added. The impressive construction covering more than 160,000 square feet currently shelters some 750,000 works, 40 percent of which can be consulted.On the long term, more than 12 million books will be stored in the library.”

Save Tracy Public Library– Save Tracy Public Library (USA). Website set up to fight the takeover of a Californian library by private company LSSI.

Ten changes to expect from the Library of the Future– Online Universities (USA). Changes are more technology, sensory storytimes, better English as a foreign language provision, automation, more community spaces, social media, digital media labs, cyber cafes, crowdsourcing, “more active librarians”.

Barnet – Controversial Tory Brian Coleman under investigation by Barnet Council over verbal abuse allegations– Times series. “The latest allegations stem from a recorded meeting of the council’s cabinet resources committee on April 4, at which members of the public tabled 56 questions about the closure of the Friern Barnet Library. Mr Merchant, 51, took his seat in front of the committee before explaining why he felt the council was wrong to close the library. He finished by telling Councillor Robert Rams, in charge of the borough’s libraries, that he was “fired”.” .. Cllr Coleman was “busy on his phone while I made my point, which is demonstrative of the fact the council doesn’t listen, and then he looked up, called me a tw*t [NB. not the word “twit”, the other one] and told me to clear off.””

Central Bedfordshire – New chapter for Leighton’s library– Leighton Buzzard Observer. “Leighton’s library, first opened in 1979, and the report states it requires some refurbishment, particularly in the lobby area and stairwell. Through additional capital funding and implementation of self-service technology so customers can serve themselves, the Library Service Strategy aims to improve the library’s space usage and layout.” [NB. £850k investment already reported and included in previous tally].

Brent – Labour gives away buildings worth £1.5m for nothing – BNC TV. ““The loss of these two buildings is massive blow to the people of Kensal Rise and Cricklewood and a massive financial loss to the Council. I wonder if the Labour Councillors would have given up so easily on buildings worth more than £1.5 million if it was their own money at stake?” said Liberal Democrat council group leader Paul Lorber. Liberal Democrats in Brent claim that this is yet another example of Labour’s waste. The council is still paying the £55,000 per year rent due on Neasden Library and the costs of rates and security at other empty library buildings in Brent.”

Kirklees – Must do a U-turn on its libraries plan – Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Letters). “Kirkless Council is proposing to replace paid library staff with volunteers in seven libraries. In all these areas there are now campaigns to preserve proper libraries. Libraries offer a vital and essential service to communities – and even more so at a time of rising unemployment and cuts in access to education and training.”

“Lancashire County Council is midway through a £6.5m programme to regenerate its 74-strong network of library branches. It’s aim is not only to keep libraries open but to ensure that they will provide modern, flexible facilities, fit for the 21st century. They are campaigning to change the way people think about libraries, letting them know about a brilliant range of facilities from borrowing the latest best-selling books and DVDs to accessing the internet for free and attending exciting events from children’s activities to live music. This new approach was piloted by West Lancashire Council where eye-catching advertising on billboards and on phone boxes, on buses and on local radio raised the overall numbers of library users by 35%. In Skelmersdale, where much of the advertising was placed, numbers increased by a massive 95%.”

Nottinghamshire – Townsend and Trollope praise Notts libraries – BookSeller. “Nottingham has announced it will not close any of its 60 libraries and is to pump £20m into capital programmes and “smaller scale refurbishments” up to 2020. The council said it is refurbishing libraries for residents in Worksop and West Bridgford, with both Sue Townsend and Joanna Trollope already giving their approval to a new-look £3.4m library in Mansfield.”

Surrey – Announces review of its volunteer-led library plans– Surrey Comet. “The matter was due to go back to the High Court in May as part of the judicial review, but the council feels it is not in the best interests of library users or taxpayers to return to court. It will re-consider the proposal in a cabinet meeting on June 19 when it will assess the work that has been done to develop a comprehensive training package for volunteers. In the weeks leading up to the meeting, the council will carry out further consultation about equalities training for volunteers at community libraries.”

“We think Surrey County Council has at last come to the right conclusion. The Judge declared SCC’s library plans to be “unlawful”. Despite SCC’s absurd initial reaction that it was “pleased” with the judgment the Council has now accepted that it can not just press ahead with its volunteer-run library plans and must now go back to the drawing board.

SCC is still intent on the policy, though, and will be attempting to retake the decision on June 19th. We expect to see evidence at that meeting that an assessment of the impact of withdrawing paid staff has been conducted, to then see if that impact can be mitigated by volunteer training. If, as we suspect, training of a continual rota of volunteers to mitigate the loss of paid staff is not enough, we would expect the Council to abandon its plans.” Lee Godfrey, SLAM.

News

Banned books and freedom of information– Infoism. Telegraph article on public libraries “censorship” shows weakness/bias of freedom of information requests. “books are not being banned in libraries. There is no effort at censorship on the part of either librarians or library authorities. There is care and there is consideration about how to address these concerns (as you would expect), led by professionally trained staff who are fully aware of their duties as professionals.” … “Stories such as these create the impression of state-employed do-gooders who will happily censor works that they deem offensive or not befitting of library users (regardless of whether this goes against professional ethics). This is highly damaging not only to the perception of libraries amongst the public, but also the perception of the profession.”

Funding a Library Development Agency– Good Library Blog. “The public library service needs a decent PR agency to look after it – and then the good it does would clearly be shown to outweigh the old fashioned nonsenses with which it is often labelled Councils should collectively employ a PR agency and manage it through a development group” … “The development agency could also host one libraries website, run one libraries catalogue, obtain decent procurement contracts fromn publishers, create one set of standard processes, manage one library management system etc etc … and save a lot of money – but it is councils and councilllors that need to call for it, set its agenda and make it work properly, and not MP’s and quangoes in government”

Guest Post #7 Library unchained, by Chris Meade – Envisioning the Library of the Future (Arts Council England). “As writers, we don’t need publishers and we don’t need libraries like we used to.” …”Too much of the discussion around libraries feels like a get together of Wurlitzer fans, nostalgic for a lost cause, not champions of the best means of access to knowledge in the 21st Century.” …”we’re Unlibrarians, with a massive collection of information online that we try to navigate our way through, aided by search engines, colleagues and friends, learning on our own terms, mapping our own development.”. However, “Now more than ever our communities vitally need a local breathing space” … “Nobody used to come to libraries for the reassuring smell of books – they wanted knowledge and grew fond of the whiff of inspiration and empowerment which they imparted.”

Sacking a Palace of Culture-New York Times (USA). New York Public Library to “spend $300 million to transform the main building, long devoted to reference, into what sounds like a palace of presentism.” … “the renovation will create up to 20,000 square feet more public space than is now available in the three Midtown buildings combined. I wonder, though, if by public he doesn’t really mean popular.”

“Confirmed authors at the Ultimate Christian Library Book Award include Canon Andrew White. Andrew’s book ‘Faith Under Fire’ is one of five books in the adult category shortlist. Andrew is flying in from the USA en route to the Middle East and will be interviewed along with Canon David Winter, guest presenter, during the award ceremony. Other guests include Nick Page, ‘The Wrong Messiah’ and Susie Howe ‘Resistance Fighter’ both contenders for the Adult Category prize plus Andrea Skevington ‘The Lion Classic Bible’, Andrew Guyatt ‘The Oncoming Storm’ and Hannah MacFarlane who wrote ‘Babylon’ representing the Children’s category. ‘We’re delighted that so many authors will be present – each book is a worthy contender for the two prizes of £1,000 but it’s the public who’s decided and they’ve certainly voted enthusiastically!’ remarked Paula Renouf, director of Speaking Volumes who are the organisers of the award.Everyone is welcome to the ceremony at 12 noon in the Parkview Suite at Sandown Racecourse during CRE. Plus, the first 100 guests will receive a free ‘literary’ goody bag” – Canon Andrew White confirms attendance at Ultimate Christian Library Book Awards – Speaking Volumes press release.

“The transfer of Kensal Rise Library and Cricklewood Library to All Souls College has deprived the local community of facilities valued at £1.5m by Brent Council officers. According to the report presented to the Executive on 15 November 2010 (section 4.2) Kensal Rise Library has a building market value of £772,034 and Cricklewood Library has a value of £724,765.The buildings were erected on land provided by All Souls College Oxford using funds contributed by Willesden Urban District Council taxpayers, a donation from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and public donations. The terms of the land transfer meant that local people could use the land to provide libraries for ever for the benefit of local people.” Brent – Liberal Democrat group press release

Brent – Councillor behind Willesden Green Library demolition sees “no architectural significance” of Victorian building – Brent & Kilburn Times. “The remarks were made at a packed Town Hall meeting on Monday night when a petition signed by 3,500 people was handed into Brent Council against the plans to knock down the library in High Road, Willesden Green.Cllr George Crane, lead member for regeneration and major projects, said: “My response was a genuine one. I saw no architectural significance on the Victorian building”. Campaigner says “this means losing a much-loved Victorian building, a treasured independent bookshop and an open, communal space. There will be almost no parking, no kids’ playground and no library for 18 months, just when you’ve closed six libraries.”

“To get to the short-term benefit of the new cultural centre, we have to sacrifice the soul of the High Street.”

Protesters urge council to shelve library proposals– London Evening Standard. “Protesters handed over a 3,600-name petition at a meeting last night, calling on Brent council to listen to residents over the planned development of the Willesden Green Library Centre.”

Buckinghamshire – Flackwell Heath’s “Big Society” library won’t be the same, says villager– Bucks Free Press. “”The chairman and vice-chairman of the unelected, self-appointed committee in your picture are both Tory councillors. Using this tawdry project they are desperate to try to cover up the damage that they and their friends have done.” He said the £33 billion being spent on the high speed rail project could have been spent on libraries instead.Dave Johncock, chairman of The Friends of Flackwell Heath Library, said: “Many of us would agree with Mr Wiles that it would have been much better for all concerned had Bucks County Council not been forced to consider the possibility of closing the Flackwell Heath library in the first place.” However, massive government cuts require the move.

Dorset – Mobile will replace Portland Underhill facility – Dorset Echo. “The island’s Underhill Library closes at the end of April and the mobile library service will visit the area every Monday, starting April 30.” … “Talks with community representatives failed to spark any interest in taking over the running of the building, which is leased by the council and will revert back to its landlord following the closure.”

Hampshire – Library e-book downloads up 67% at Hampshire’s libraries – BBC. “The county council’s was one of the country’s busiest online library services in 2011/12, with about 5,000 [roughly what a branch library should be doing in a day or two – Ian.] downloads every month. But the number of traditional books borrowed from Hampshire libraries fell by 37% compared with nine years ago.”

Kirklees – Save Denby Dale Library– Kirklees Council. Epetition. “Due to funding cuts, several libraries in the Kirklees area – including the library in Denby Dale – are threatened with losing their paid staff. Libraries are too important to rely upon voluntary staff: they engage the whole of their local society; forming a hub of community life, and enabling lifelong learning. If the services of qualified staff are lost, it is likely that the professional skills, knowledge, and expertise necessary to this role will also be lost, and the resulting library service will be sadly diminished, and may eventually cease.”

Medway – Council set to swing axe and cut 70 jobs– Kent News. “As part of changes, the council will continue its programme to create a community hub in each of Medway’s town centres. This will see customer contact point and library staff becoming a joint team providing services under one roof. This will allow people to go into Medway’s five town centre libraries to order services, and seek advice across more council work areas than they have been able to do before. They will also be able to pay many bills.”

Suffolk – Bungay Library celebrates dawning of new era– EDP. “Bungay Library has become of the first libraries in Suffolk to be run by the Industrial and Provident Society (IPS), which was set up by the county council to oversee all of the county’s library services.”. Bungay was under threat. ” “We agreed last year to become a pilot under the new structure and have spent the last several months preparing a business plan, and identifying the most appropriate form of legal entity to adopt for the new Bungay community library.” The library has been charged with saving £2,000, as part of a county-wide £100,000 reduction, and Mrs Knights said they intend to conduct fundraising to help meet this target.”

Surrey – Council admits court defeat but “war” goes on– Get Surrey. “the local authority said that, having “carefully considered” the judgment handed down by Mr Justice Wilkie, it was “not in the best interest of library-goers or taxpayers to return to court”. The council’s lawyers will now work on a legal agreement with solicitors acting for the claimants who brought the judicial review action on behalf of the Surrey Libraries Action Movement (SLAM). It is thought this will include provisos that any decisions taken in the future by the council will have to comply with Mr Justice Wilkie’s judgment and that all of the claimant’s legal costs be paid by the authority.”

Council to take libraries decision again– Surrey News. “In the weeks leading up to that meeting, the council will carry out a further consultation about equalities training for volunteers at community libraries.”

“I am also responsible for supervising library services in England.” Ed Vaizey, it is generally agreed, has notably failed to supervise library services since he took office. Despite the deepest cuts to library services in peacetime history, he has failed to order a single inquiry into cuts. This despite reductions in service including: the closure of othewise taking out of council control more than half the total number of libraries (Brent and Doncaster), nearly half of libraries (Isle of Wight) or a third of opening hours (Hertfordshire). In four authorities (Somerset, Gloucestershire, Surrey and Brent) Ed has sat back and done nothing while library users have had to challenge the decision and pay for it from their own pockets. Worse, in the Isle of Wight and Lewisham, he sat back while campaigners tried to fight deep cuts and did nothing when they failed to raise the money. He even on 11th April put up a strong defence of his inaction.

“…and it is worth remembering that they have always been funded by local authorities, never by central government.”. Classic “it’s nothing to do with me” Vaizey. While it is true that the funding is from local authorities, Ed has done nothing to, in any way, defend the budgets of library services from the worst damage. In some authorities, 50% of the budget is being cut. For a service that does so much to encourage literacy, equality, learning and creativity, this is shocking. It’s like leaving a baby outside for the wolves because it’s not technically your baby. Also, it doesn’t quite make sense: he admits in the previous sentences that he has responsibility for supervising them and then appears to distance himself from their funding. Presumably, he feels that somehow their funding or lack of it is nothing to do with their performance. A curious proposition, at best.

“Many people claim libraries are under threat.” Somewhat of an understatement this. Perhaps he means, “everyone else apart from me and those directly paid to do otherwise”. The nation is aware libraries are under threat. There has even been – and we can assume Ed Vaizey knows about this being he had to give evidence at it – a parliamentary Select Committee Inquiry into Library Closures. Presumably he is including the MPs in this committee, over half from his own party, as scaremongers.

“In fact there are as many libraries today as there were thirty years ago.”. Yes, there is. Just about. Of course, the libraries thirty years ago had longer opening hours, decent book stock, trained – even paid – staff, non-leaking roofs. This is the danger of “hollowing out” of a service: the buildings can remain but there is nothing in them. The oak tree still stands but it is empty inside and awaiting collapse.

“many have also opened”. Almost all of these have been to replace libraries no longer suitable for purpose. Of course, due to the time taken for building libraries, the money for these openings was largely committed under the previous Government. Some big central libraries – such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester – won’t open for another year or two, although work started in 2009 or before. Ed Vaizey will doubtless claim credit for them too. Also, notice the semantics here – he uses the word “some” for closures and “many” for openings, suggesting that there are more openings than closures. Clever but perhaps slightly deceptive.

“talk of 600 libraries closing is very well wide of the mark”. Well, yes it would be, if ever someone actually said it. The figure is from an estimate from CILIP of libraries under threat made last year. Not closed. We know from media reports that 377 have either closed or are under threat at this moment in time. These are the cases where the media are already involved. Speaking personally, though, I am actually surprised that the figure from reports is not currently 600. Of course, this could have something to do with the massive public protest when libraries do close and the legal actions that the public have paid for to stop them doing so. Certainly, it has nothing to do with Ed Vaizey.

“In fact, we have taken action to support libraries. We have given responsibility to support them to the Arts Council, which gives libraries and cultural organisations the chance to work together.” With £3m rather than the £13m that the MLA had for the same purpose. Also, libraries and culture are not the world’s safest mix at the moment, considering the Government is massively cutting its spending on the Arts and, through the withdrawal of tax incentives, cutting private spending on them as well.

“We have funded two development programmes to share best practice between library authorities.” Really, providing two chances for senior staff to send information with eachother is the best you can do?

“ACE is undertaking extensive consultation on what library services will look like in the future so we can anticipate their needs.” In a time of national crisis, another consultation is all we need. Especially as none of the other ones resulted in anything. It is well known that the best excuse for doing nothing is to launch a consultation or an enquiry. It’s also, due to reasons covered earlier, not the best funded consultation. For example, the public consultation uses a barely changed free blogging format. It also seems to be heavily biased, if the blog posts are anything to go by, to big airy subjects with only a tenuous basis for the reality on the ground.

“And we are working on specific programmes to give libraries further support”. Presumably, support including guidelines training for volunteers and how to get by on book donations. Expect big-sounding initiatives with no real funding behind them. Words like “challenge” and “transformation” will undoubtedly be used.

“There are dozens of national programmes like World Book Night which support reading“. Like, for instance, BookStart which had its funding halved in the first year that the current Government took office and would have lost it all without massive protest.

“And with a network of almost 3,500 libraries in England alone, many places where reading can be supported and encouraged.” But not, one fears, for much longer.

“The Brent campaigners could take Mr Vaizey to the empty buildings. The Gloucestershire campaigners could detail their long battle to protect the service in their county. The Friern Barnet campaigners could detail their struggle to keep a beloved library open. In Liverpool we could take Ed on a tour of three lost branches. Of course some new libraries have opened, but that is only part of the story. What we need to hear from the Minister is how the experience of the best library services is generalised so that the worst are brought up to that standard. Furthermore, the narrative is not simply about physical buildings that have closed or may close. It is also about the slashed opening hours, the redundant librarians, the reduced book stock.” Alan Gibbons. See also a summary of the situation provided by Desmond Clarke.

News

“Coarse language” and violence top list of UK parents’ complaints about books– Guardian. Reports on yesterdays Telegraph article on challenges to book titles in UK libraries, apparently gained via Freedom of Information requests. Voices for the Library says “No professional librarian would withdraw a book due to a complaint unless it was under exceptional circumstances. Books may get temporarily withdrawn whilst policies are consulted, but it is exceptionally rare for permanent withdrawal. In the case of most books, they will be returned to the shelves in reasonable time” … “Clark expressed the concern that the growing tendency of councils to hand libraries over to volunteers would make the issue worse. “Community libraries will make withdrawal of books (or censorship) more common as the staff, unlike librarians, are not bound by professional ethics”.

“So that’s 150 complaints about children’s books between 98 boroughs over 5 years. My maths gives out here but it doesn’t sound as if anyone is exactly overwhelmed with Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells-type missives” Comment on LIS-PUB-LIBS.

Library members can now borrow books from any library throughout Ireland– Information Daily. Citizens of Eire and the Northern Ireland can now use their library card to borrow books from anywhere on the island. ““Libraries are at the heart of local communities. They deliver an important public service. It’s a positive step that book borrowing services are available across Ireland. Library members, north and south will be able to use their nearest or most convenient library, or a library where they go on holiday. There is a lot to be gained from an all-Ireland approach which will improve the delivery of key public services.”

Three unwritten rules I think you should know about using yout library (it wasn’t like this in my day) – Nilam Ashra-McGrath. Unwritten rules are (a) appear quiet while not actually being quiet (e.g. typing, texting, etc) “Libraries are still sanctuaries, but now they come with a cloud of white noise”, (b) bring something (food, drink, bag, phone), (c) romance goes on. “The aim of these rules isn’t to mystify, they’re just there to help you make sense of a diminishing world. Don’t let the changes happening to your library put you off using them, just make use of your library while you can.”. [Not sure if I agree with the first and last rules: “my” library is loud, ideally with a happy buzz, except in the reference section and there is nothing more important than books, not even romance].

Local News

Brent – Art work responds to Brent library closures– Harrow Observer. “Local artist, Mali, created the work in reaction to Brent Council’s unpopular decision to close half of the borough’s libraries, despite fierce opposition from library users. Mali has wrapped up books in hessian to ‘represent the impossibility of access to culture that the closing down of libraries represents’. The work will be on show at The BAR Gallery, Willesden Green, from May 8 to June 1 and admission is free. A spokesman for the gallery said: “The books are there for you to read, but you can’t open them and they become useless and unwanted.”

Temporary reading room in Wembley opened by Friends of Barham Library– Brent & Kilburn Times. Library “closed down last year by Brent Council alongside Cricklewood, Kensal Rise, Neasden, Preston and Tokyngton libraries in a move which will save the local authority £1m. The new facility, which will be open on weekends only initially, will offer a variety of activities including free talks and “read-ins” while residents are also encouraged to bring books their own books to add to the growing collection.”

Kent – Library and history centre opens in Maidstone– BBC. “Archives that stretch about 14km (9 miles) have been housed in a new library centre opened in Kent. The Kent History and Library Centre in James Whatman Way, Maidstone, has been built to protect and display the historic documents.”

Oxfordshire – Oxford submits bid to become World Book Capital– BBC. “The designation is given to cities to promote reading and literature. Oxford is aiming to become the first English-speaking location to hold the title. If successful, a programme of events would be staged, including conferences, festivals, plays and writing competitions. Bid director Kathelene Weiss said the events planned would “promote a love of reading” in the city.”

Somerset – County Council library survey under way– BBC. “Last November a judicial review ruled a decision to withdraw funding to 11 libraries in the county was “unlawful”. Councillor Christine Lawrence said: “Our aim is always to deliver the best possible service within the resources we have.” The Conservative-led authority cancelled its plans to cut £1.35m from its library budget as a result of last year’s ruling.”

Beyond the bullet points: libraries are obsolete– Virtual Dave (USA). Some excellent points against public libraries and, of course, excellent points in rebuttal in favour of them. “Libraries as band aids may be obsolete, but that is not why we need libraries. We need libraries so we can fix our education system, so we can fix our economy, so we can fix our democracies yes. But we need libraries even more to discover new knowledge not found in any textbook. We need libraries to create whole new opportunities for innovation. We need libraries to give our communities a voice and power in the working of government. Libraries will never be obsolete so long as our communities dream, and strive, and work to ensure a world of insurmountable opportunities.”

Blagger’s guide to … World Book Night– Independent on Sunday. “Some publishers were initially a little sceptical: giving away books when the industry is struggling may seem like lunacy. But last year’s inaugural event was such a hit that most now agree it’s worth putting up with the £8m cost, if it spreads a bit of love. Of course, it’s brilliant PR and, who knows, some new readers may become bookaholics and big spenders”. [Interesting to note that public libraries “give” books away all the time and therefore presumably also help the publishing industry.]

British Library: going beyond books– Guardian. Libraries as wealth creators: “We want to hear from the designers, illustrators and other creative professionals who have used the library: what have you found useful and (truthfully) what you didn’t. The British Library has always been a hub of knowledge, now it also wants to be a hub of inspiration. Come and get inspired.”

HuffPost meets Dan Jarvis, an MP obsessed with libraries– Huffington Post. Shadow minister for libraries is about to produce “a major report on the future of libraries, a document which he promises will be a “non-partisan, non-knockabout vision for a 21st Century library.” … “They’re really important public spaces… but like everything they have got to move with the times. We’re now living in an information age, the way people are accessing information is different from five or ten years ago, and it will be different in another five or ten years from now.” His pre-occupation seems to be that as we increasingly move from print to digital publishing, the case for a physical public space becomes precarious.”. Mr Jarvis believes the DCMS is about to be disbanded.

“I’m not even convinced that [the Tory culture minister] Ed Vaizey believes he’s been a champion for libraries. The minister for libraries should be out there making the case for why it’s important for local authorities to protect libraries. He hasn’t done that.”

Let’s begin to do something positive about the public library service– Good Library Blog. Tim Coates argues that we need “one system, one website, one communications network, one set of operating standards for every process – and 3,500 buildings . The 150 systems and websites and sets of specifications we have now need to be closed down.”. See comments for reasons for and against this idea.

Letter: Bob Usherwood– Independent on Sunday. “Localism inevitably leads to a postcode lottery, which means there will be unequal access to high-quality library and information services. There is also the real danger of tyranny by a local majority whereby a policy – stock selection, say – may be based on local prejudice rather than professional judgement. In America, challenges to books in libraries are commonplace, and challenged titles include Brave New World and Catcher in the Rye. Such events are rare in the UK, partly because of local and central control. We face the prospect of a public library service based on geographical chance and localism, and a population whose life chances will be diminished by reduced services and several hundred library closures.”

“Q. Do you have a Kindle? I do, but funnily enough it’s very difficult to get any books on it you actually want. The first thing I thought I’d put on it was Froude’s Life of Carlyle, which is one of my favourite biographies, but it’s quite impossible. Then you try to download the Pléiade Proust rather than some crap Proust and you can’t. Then I downloaded the complete works of Yeats, and the poems give out halfway through. So I think it’s of very limited use. It’s fine for aeroplanes and trains but it won’t replace the dear old book.” AN Wilson in the Guardian.

Save the Libraries event: Boston Public Library – Hellnotes (USA). “The funding of American libraries should be a matter of national security,” Karin writes. “Keeping libraries open, giving access to all children to all books is vital to our nation’s sovereignty. For nearly 85 percent of kids living in rural areas, the only place where they have access to technology or books outside the schoolroom is in a public library. For many urban kids, the only safe haven they have to study or do homework is the public library.”

Think like a Start-Up: a White Paper– Ubiquitous Librarian (USA). An article written for academic libraries but relevant also for public libraries. It suggests that libraries should consider what their core purpose is and use their unique selling points to change so they can still do that in the changing world. There’s a fair bit of business-speak and nonsense [“aim for epiphanies”] in the pdf but the idea is sound and needs examining.

Bolton – MP calls for moves to save library service– Bolton News. “Mr Crausby [MP] has signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament which welcomes the formation of Speak Up For Libraries and calls on the Government to undertake a thorough assessment of the state of the public library service and develop a national vision for its future.”

“Too late for the people of Highfield who saw their new library shut down even though it was well used.The old library building at Marsh Lane lies empty.Surely the answer would have been to sell the Marsh Lane building as it’s standing there doing nothing and pump the proceeds into the Highfield Road building.Sadly the Council just closed Highfield library without justification and now people are asked to use Farnworth library which is almost 2 miles away and £4.20p return on the bus.Madness!”

Dorset – Wool library campaigners closer to taking over facility– Dorset Echo. “The Friends of Wool Library has already put forward a business plan for the future running of the facility and are in discussions with the council with a view to taking over the library in September. The Friends group, which now has 100 members and a roster of volunteers in place, has received a further boost to their plans with a generous donation from a local firm. The Bovington Employees Support Team (BEST) at Babcock International has donated £200 [sic] to help the Friends meet the running costs when they take over the facility.”

Gloucestershire – Library rescue plan progressing in Mitcheldean– This is Gloucestershire. “More than 30 hours of staffing per week are likely to be stripped away from the library under Gloucestershire County Council’s savings plans but villagers are determined to keep it running at full strength. The Mitcheldean Library Action Group has now set up the new GL17 Community Hub to take on responsibility for the centre and is determined services will not be hit.”. Councillor Hawthorne claims that cutting 30 hours of staffing is providing an opportunity to “expand library facilities”.

Newcastle – Week in the life of Cruddas Park Library– Newcastle Libraries Online. “Local photographer Keith Pattison spent a week at Cruddas Park Library taking photographs of the customers who visited. They either held up the book they borrowed of wrote down the reason for their trip to the library. His innovative project highlights the many different ways people use their library and looks at the role libraries play in the local community. The images have been compiled in his new book, ‘face BOOK – A Week in the Life of a Branch Library’, which will be launched alongside Keith’s exhibition on Tuesday 24 April at 10:30am at Cruddas Park Shopping Centre. You can also take a look at the images online on Keith’s website.”. Some nice images.

Telford & Wrekin – Library service changes to go before cabinet– Shropshire Live. “The council says savings of around 20 per cent could be achieved without the need to close any of the 9 libraries across the borough if the plans are approved. The proposal states that the savings could be gained through the reduction of opening hours along with the exploration of researching new opportunities to co-locate library services with other partner services in order to save building related costs.” … “The proposals would mean that no library in Telford and Wrekin would have to close and by presenting a proposal which has been informed by public opinion, the suggestion to change library opening hours should suit our service users.””

An open letter about eBooks and Douglas County Libraries– Douglas County Libraries (USA). “In a free market, companies are free to set their prices. But we are free to seek a better deal – and we’ve found one. Instead of passively accepting what amounts to a 33% reduction in the purchasing power of the library, we’ll be extending our network of electronic publishers to include those who are more responsive to our needs and budgets.We have now identified some 12 groups of publishers, comprising over 800 individual companies.”

Mayor candidate supports Upper Norwood Library– Croydon Guardian. “The reason I am so supportive of what you are doing here is I don’t think they should be shutting down a single library.”The reason libraries are being shut is they are not run efficiently. You have proved you can keep libraries open by running them more efficiently.”

Ministry of Fun or Ministry of Fumble: do we really need the DCMS?– Our Kingdom. Analysis and history of the DCMS. “There also seems to be a strange mis-match between the Department’s responsibilities (broadcasting, libraries, museums, sport and tourism) and its stated strategic priorities: children and young people, communities, delivery, economy and the Olympic Games and their legacy.” … “More importantly, the DCMS lacks clout. A tiny department is poorly placed to attract high-flying civil servants. It is no secret that clients of the DCMS, and top mandarins in the larger departments of state, regard the quality of staff there as low. “

Harman fears of DCMS abolition – BookSeller. “Independent Mayor of London candidate Siobhan Benita visited an under threat library and vowed, if elected, to protect every library in the capital. Mrs Benita, who hails from New Malden and is the only Independent candidate running in the Mayoral Election, was at Upper Norwood Library on Thursday April 19 to lend public support to the campaign to prevent its closure.”

Should we abolish the DCMS?– Institute of Economic Affairs. Panel discussion, back in February, of a rightwing think-tank may have set the ball rolling.

“Many of us have been dismayed, though probably not surprised by the failure of the DCMS, in the form of Minister for Ignoring Library Users Ed Vaizey, to intervene when councils have slashed services. That does not mean we would see the abolition of the DCMS as a step forward. A new department with a consciously business ethic, favouring philanthropy over public service, administered by the same Mr Vaizey, might easily be substantially worse, especially if the main reason for the change is to make even deeper cuts. For a very long time library campaigners have argued that there should be some kind of Libraries Development Board, promoting the specific interests of libraries. The track record of the DCMS is poor, but we should be very wary of wholesale closure. The interests of libraries could be even more poorly served.” Alan Gibbons

Barnet – Dear Stephen Fry– Save Friern Barnet Library Group. “One of the reasons the closure is a problem, is that they aren’t closing it, they are permanently moving it to a library a considerable distance away which we could only reach by car; or should I say the locals could only reach by car. Countless people visit the gem of our “town” every week to enjoy and embrace the fiction and non- fiction that literally flies within the walls that is its sanctuary, that the council is trying to crush. There is so much more I’d like to tell you but you must be busy, but just remember, that not only the adults fight, but the children do too. I’m only 11 but just like my classmates, we love books, and will do anything to keep our local library, our gem, here and local.”

Brent – Anger at Brent Council plans to charge campaigners handing out leaflets– Brent and Kilburn Times. “Brent Council has been accused of trying to gag campaigners and restrict free speech after it announced plans to ban leafleting around the borough. Instead, anyone who wants to hand out free literature would have to apply for a licence at a cost of £175. The new restrictions would not apply to charities, religious organisations or political parties. But community groups campaigning on local issues would have to apply for a licence.”

Outrage as Brent Council plan to charge citizens for free speech– Wembley Matters. ” I wrote in my blog breaking news of the plans that the definition of ‘political purposes’ would be open to interpretation LINK. Campaigns around cuts and libraries etc are ‘political’ but not representing a political party. It now appears that Brent’s interpretation is that exempt activities are those of political parties campaigning at election time.”.

The London Evening Standard reports that the DCMS may be abolished after the Olympic Games. There are some in the library campaigning world who see this as a good thing. One has commented “Why wait for the Olympics?”. On the face of it, there is much to be said for this view. The DCMS has hardly set the world alight with its pro-library work. The experience of many campaigns is that councils do what they want to their libraries and the DCMS may, or may not, talk to them about then may, or may not, talk to library campaigns. What happens then is that nothing happens or, at best, a letter is sent explaining why nothing has happened. About the only active thing that the DCMS has done is the Future Libraries programme. This looked at several ways that public libraries could save money. Some of its initiatives were interesting. Most have hardly set the world on fire. Some, may actually be harmful in the long-term.

I should at this point say that I am not criticising the DCMS civil servants themselves. They have no option over this. They need to follow the directives of their masters and this means the ideology of the government of the day. Do the work or lose your job, basically.

No, the problem is with their masters and, oh my, there may be worse to come on that score. Ladies and gentleman, there are suggestions that the replacement department, possibly called the Department for Business, Creation and Innovation, could be led by ….. Ed Vaizey. Oh. My. Goodness. The minister-technically-for-libraries, known by campaigners as Evaizive or Lazy Vaizey could get promoted. The man who has done nothing, and made sure nothing is done, over the biggest crisis in public libraries in history, may be rewarded. More ominously, it could also potentially mean £1.6 bn being taken from the Arts and Culture. It could potentially mean big trouble for the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Tate, the British Museum and – top on at least one hit list – the British Library. After all, abolition of the department, the Institute of Economic Affairs points out, could cut 2% off corporation tax.

No, the abolition of the DCMS may be the very opposite of a good thing.

News

Building collections: 300 years of the old library – NAPLE blog. “This year Trinity College Library Dublin will mark the tercentenary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Old Library, one of the great libraries of the Western world. The balance and symmetry of the architecture have made the building an icon for the organisation of human thought and expression. Its collections span over a millennium of recorded thought.”

Don’t let the philistines destroy London’s arts, David – London Evening Standard. Arts Council funding cut by 30%. “And now I fear that Cameron is about to deal yet another blow to the arts by abolishing the DCMS altogether. There are well-sourced rumours in Westminster and the arts world that after the Olympics, the Government will announce that the DCMS is no longer needed.”

Internet: don’t need it, can’t afford it – Infoism. Reasons for people not having the internet are explored: half don’t think its relevant, a third say they can’t afford it. a tenth say lack of skills.

Nesta report encourages “creative decommissioning”– Civil Society. “The report uses eight worldwide case studies to demonstrate how imaginative decommissioning can result in affirmative action. One such case is from the London borough of Tower Hamlets, where underused libraries are being closed and ‘Idea Stores’ opened in their place. Branded as “a reinvention of what a modern library could be”, these combine the traditional book-lending service with adult learning, after-school activities for children, local information, a café, health services and other cultural activities – all in one location. Despite a reduction in the number of libraries, the replacement Idea Stores are being used more intensely, with a rise in visits from circa 500,000 to two million a year since their introduction.”

Barnet – Interim library to open next week – Barnet Today. “…announced following a public backlash over the closure of Friern Barnet Library is set to open next week. The interim library, which opens on Tuesday April 24, will be based at artsdepot in Tally Ho Corner, where the council plans to merge North Finchley and Friern Barnet libraries.” … “A council spokesman said the stop-gap library, which will be open for three hours a day, four days a week, will offer around 10,000 items, as well as newspapers, magazines and a study space. Activities for children and young people are also in the pipeline”

Camden – First membership cards issued at the new Keats Community Library– Camden New Journal. “The renamed Hampstead library – housed in a wing of the home of Romantic poet John Keats – was saved by a committee made up of Hampstead-based civic groups and library users. Nearly 370 people – organised into half-day shifts – have volunteered to help run the library. Library director Steven Bobasch said: “We’ve opted to use an electronic system to memorise data, and then stamp books the old fashioned way to keep things simple.” … “It aims to raise at least £250,000 to set up a foundation, and will need to find £80,000 a year to stay open six days a week.” 50 people joined in one morning, aim is 1000.

Durham – Campaigners present petition to protect Belmont Library– Northern Echo. “Yesterday, campaigners from Belmont, Durham City, presented a petition of more than 2,000 signatures to County Hall – making their case outside the building as Labour councillors arrived for a cabinet meeting. The We Love Belmont Library campaign is fighting a proposal to reduce its opening hours from 43 hours a week to 20.”

Gloucestershire – Volunteers stock library shelves– This is Gloucestershire. “Volunteer librarians are busy cataloguing books in readiness for the launch of the county’s first community library in Painswick. Campaign helpers are adding dust jackets and date labels before stacking bookshelves in the refurbished upper room of the Town Hall, from where the library will operate.”

Lancashire – Backs libraries– About My Area. “The campaign features local library users on eye-catching billboards, phone boxes, and buses, as well as radio adverts. The campaign also features a competition to win a Kobo e-reader , aimed at generating feedback through an on-line survey. The face of the East Lancashire campaign is 17-year old Abida Tasneem, who is a volunteer at Haslingden Library.”

“The campaign builds on a pilot run in West Lancashire in the autumn, which saw the number of new members increase by 35%. In Skelmersdale, where much of the advertising was placed, new members role by a huge 92%. This pilot campaign has now been shortlisted for two national marketing awards.”

“Now here is a challenge to Culture Minister Ed Vaizey. Why not get active and launch a national campaign of advocacy encouraging all councils to follow Lancashire’s example? I am sure Lancashire has its financial pressures and I know there have been some service reductions, but elected representatives do not have to preside over a declining service. Even in these difficult times it is possible to bring the public flocking into our libraries. If we don’t the tendency to decline will be a self fulfilling prophecy.” Alan Gibbons.

Northamptonshire – Libraries advertising screens plan advertised – BBC. Critic says “LSD [sic]screens are very cheap now and can be bought for next to nothing, so why they have authorised £165,000 to be spent on them? “It wasn’t long ago the libraries were facing closure – now it seems the money is being invested in the wrong area.” … but council says “”It will be used to keep library visitors informed with what’s happening at their local library and the wide range of services available, whether it’s a job club, free internet access on a Friday or a Rhymetime session, for example.”

Consortia Conference 2012– Event taking place on 3rd May in Bath. Looks at one of the ways that authorities are trying to save money without closing libraries.

Libraries workshops: Envisioning the library of the future– Arts Council England. Your chance to give your views. ” series of workshops will take place across the country in May this year as part of Envisioning the library of the future, our programme of research and debate. The workshops will allow people to take part in a discussion that will begin to envisage what the library of the future could and should look like. At each event we will present the research into societal trends that is currently taking place as a set of possible scenarios and explore the implications of these scenarios for the delivery of library services in the future. The events will also involve open space discussions about how library services could develop. Delegates will be asked to contribute their views and take an active part in the conversation.”

Local News

Gloucestershire – Decision to clear councillors of wrongdoing a “whitewash” says library campaigner– Stroud News & Journal. “Cllr Noble, who was at that time tasked with shaping GCC’s library strategy, said: “Wards found to be in the top ten per cent of the country’s multiple deprivation indices were assessed as one of the criterion for evaluating how future library services could be provided. “Mr Holland, a former assistant head of libraries for Gloucestershire said the statement was misleading.”The implication was that information about the needs of the poorest areas in the county was used to inform the library review. In fact, it was not,” he said.”

Liberal Democrats “Call-in” GCC’s library strategy – FoGL. “Cllr Hawthorne protests that the call-in is “pure party politics” (just as he did last time!). We would argue that this is deeply hypocritical as he and his colleagues in the cabinet have themselves been so blinkered by party politics that they have repeatedly failed to listen to the wishes of the electorate and have stubbornly continued to bulldoze through these overwhelmingly unpopular and inequitable cuts. This is not about party politics but about the authority’s duty to provide a statutory and important service to the electorate. No one wants to end up back in court.”. Includes full text of Lib Dem call-in document.

New challenge on library cuts– This is Gloucestershire. “Plans to cut funding to seven Gloucestershire libraries have been put on hold after Liberal Democrat councillors challenged the move. sThe party’s group at Shire Hall has invoked the county council’s ‘call-in’ procedure.” … “It will halt the authority’s latest libraries strategy from coming into force until its Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee has reviewed it, possibly at its meeting on May 29.”

“The cabinet has learnt nothing from this and proceeded with some changes to the original plan, but with the fundamental flaws remaining intact. “There appears to be a blatant favouritism with Tories increasing opening times at libraries in their Cotswold heartland, but cutting hours in other parts of the county.”

Liverpool – Letters– Liverpool Echo. “I’m afraid we just cannot afford the expense of the mayoral election and the expense of keeping the libraries open as well….I am now 73 years old and joined Lodge Lane library when I was in junior school. Years later I used Kensington library, but now have been a member of Old Swan library for the past 40 years. I’ll have to admit I never ever thought I’d live to see the day when our local libraries would start closing down.”

Northamptonshire – Libraries to open on Sundays– BBC. ” “We want to make sure that libraries thrive and everyone has the chance to use them. By opening on Sundays we are giving people even more opportunity to visit, especially those who are at work at other times.” I am now 73 years old and joined Lodge Lane library when I was in junior school. Years later I used Kensington library, but now have been a member of Old Swan library for the past 40 years. I’ll have to admit I never ever thought I’d live to see the day when our local libraries would start closing down.

Plans to spend £165,000 on signs for Northamptonshire libraries criticised– Northampton Chronicle. “Northamptonshire County Council has revealed plans to spend the six-figure sum on signs at the county’s 35 libraries. The council said they will be used to “keep readers informed of what is going on at the libraries” … ““We are looking for a company to supply, install and maintain electronic signs in 35 libraries for the next five years.“This is part of our work to make libraries fit for the future and will be used to keep library visitors informed with what’s happening at their local library and the wide range of services available, whether it’s a job club, free internet access on a Friday or a Rhymetime session, for example.” … comments include a request that money is spent stopping one library’s leaking roof, or another library’s inadequate heating system.

North Yorkshire – New deal secures Kirkbymoorside library’s hours– Gazette & Herald. “…as part of a partnership arrangement between the town council, North Yorkshire County Council and Ryedale District Council. The councils have agreed to pool staff from June 1 so that current library opening hours will be sustained, despite savings that have to be made.”

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Numbers

From 1st January 2017, 100 libraries are under threat (5 in Bath, 17 in Bristol, 17 in Bury, 5 in Cheshire East, 3 in Cumbria, 7 in East Sussex, 4 in Liverpool, 7 in Midlothian, 21 in Northamptonshire, 10 in Plymouth, 4 in South Tyneside).

Since 1st April 2016 to end of March 2017. CIPFA reported 105 libraries closed, bringing the total to 3745 branches. 2015 to end of March 2016: CIPFA reported 121 libraries closed, bringing the total to 3850 libraries.
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(April 1st 2015 to end of March 2016) 211 static and 39 mobile libraries (Aberdeen, Bracknell Forest, Bradford, Brighton & Hove, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Ceredigion, Croydon, Darlington, Dorset, Enfield, Falkirk, Fife, Greenwich, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kirklees, Lambeth, Lancashire, Lewisham, Neath Port Talbot, Norfolk, Nottingham, Orkney, Oxfordshire, Pembrokeshire, Reading, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Ayrshire, South Gloucestershire, South Lanarkshire, Staffordshire, Stockton, Swindon, Telford & Wrekin, Walsall, West Berkshire and Wiltshire) have been put under threat
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In financial year 2014/15, there was a decline of 106 public libraries, (with 260 static libraries were put under threat of closure/passing to volunteers. 9 mobile libraries under threat in the same period). .

There are currently 3850 libraries in the UK (CIPFA figures for 2015/16). There were 4023 in 2013/14, 4482 in 2009/10 and 4622 in 2003/4.
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The complete list is on "Tally by Local Authority" page as are other changes to budgets such as cuts to hours, bookfund and staffing. CIpfa have calculated that 121 service points lost in 2015/16, 106 service points were lost in 2014/15, 49 were lost in 2013/14, 74 were lost in 2012/13, 201 in 2011/12, 33 in 2010/11.
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For a list of new and refurbished buildings see this page,

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